Goucher Achieves Best TOC Result in Program History
Laurinburg, N.C. — Goucher’s equestrian program has set an endless number of milestones in recent years, and this weekend’s series-concluding Winter Classic Tournament of Champions show gave the team a chance to add another accomplishment to that list.
Laurinburg, N.C. — Goucher's equestrian program has set an endless number of milestones in recent years, and this weekend's series-concluding Winter Classic Tournament of Champions show gave the team a chance to add another accomplishment to that list.
The Gophers did not miss out on that opportunity, earning 26 points at today's event and finishing the series in third place overall with an average of 33.5 points. That total was only 0.5 points behind second place Mount Holyoke and 2.5 points back of champion Savannah Art & Design, and it is Goucher's best finish at the nationally-renowned event in program history.
Joey Fink (Baltimore, Md./The Park School) led the way for the Gophers, as the senior co-captain took first place in open equitation over fences and second place in open equitation on the flat. Fink also earned a sixth-place result in the medal class.
Clea Lerner (Los Angeles, Calif./Renaissance Arts Academy) and Sarah Lummis (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) added four points apiece to Goucher's point total with third-place showings in novice flat and walk trot canter, respectively. Anna Carmichael (Colorado Springs, Colo./William J. Palmer) earned three more by placing fourth in novice fences.
Joel Brandis (Portland, Ore./Grant) and Alison Radgowski (Northport, N.Y./Northport) tallied the final three points for the Gophers. Brandis placed fifth in walk trot and Radgowski took sixth place in intermediate flat.
Tufts took first place at this weekend's event with 41 points, eight ahead of St. Andrew's blue team. Goucher finished in a tie for sixth place with Virginia Tech. The Gophers' point total today was averaged out with the 41 points the team earned at the first Tournament of Champions event of the year, the Preseason Classic, to give them their final score of 33.5 points.
Goucher will now have a few weeks off before returning to regular season IHSA competition at the Maryland IHSA Show on Feb. 21. That show will be held at The Other Left Farm in Oatland, Md.